Court adjourns assault trial of MP’s son

Dean Hancock at an earlier hearing

Kimberley Barber

MP Mike Hancock’s son had an assault charge case against him adjourned today.

Dean Hancock, 37, is accused of assaulting a national press photographer outside the family home in Rockingham Way, Portchester.

He is alleged to have hit Steve Reigate after telling photographers not to take pictures his mother.

Mr Hancock denies the charges and was due for trial at Fareham magistrates court today. But the case was adjourned to a later date because video footage from ITN which was part of the prosecution evidence had not been served in time.

Judge Anne Arnold said this lack of evidence could impact on a fair trial and adjourned the trial to Portsmouth Magiatrates’ Court on June 13. She released Mr Hancock on unconditional bail.

‘He is very anxious about these proceedings for a number of different reasons as is his family and to not have closure on it today is very disappointing.

‘I have to agreed to an adjournment but I have to make my client’s views known on how disappointed he is.’

Mr Hancock was charged after an incident when journalists and photographers had gathered outside on the family home on January 23 after a report was leaked about Mike Hancock’s alleged sexual activities.

The Portsmouth South MP had been suspended from the Lib Dem party following the report, although he strenuously denies the allegations.

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